OREANDA-NEWS On 04 September was announced, that total coke output in 8M 08 increased by 9% y-o-y. Avdiivka and Alchevsk Coke Plants were the clear leaders, with 39% and 17% respective increases y-o-y. On a monthly basis, only AVDK saw its output rise, posting an increase of 3% m-o-m, while ALKZ’s and ZACO’s output fell by 8-9% m-o-m and YASK’s and BKOK’s was flat.

Ukrainian coke output has grown much faster than iron output (coke is a staple input product of iron) both on an annual and monthly basis, suggesting either a rise in export deliveries driven by higher export prices, or the replacement of imports with domestic production.

Coke prices continued to rise in August spurred by higher export prices, reaching USD 620/t, an average increase of 94% YTD, while coal prices jumped by 45% in August to USD 320/t, an average rise of 85% YTD.